| Personal Details | |
| Date of Birth | October 5, 1891 |
| Place of Birth | Morborne, Peterboro, Huntingdonshire |
| Country | England |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Next of Kin | Mrs. W. Spendlow (Mother), 37 Church Street, Manground, Peterboro, England |
| Trade / Calling | Fireman |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Service Details | |
| Regimental Number | 439267 |
| Service Record | Link to Service Record |
| Battalion | 52nd Battalion |
| Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Branch | Canadian Infantry |
| Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
| Address at Enlistment | Kenora, Ontario |
| Date of Enlistment | May 22, 1915 |
| Age at Enlistment | 23 |
| Theatre of Service | Europe |
| Prisoner of War | No |
| Survived War | Yes |
| Death Details | |
| Date of Death | October 24, 1962 |
| Age at Death | 71 |
| Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
| Plot | 9E-10-1 |
Spendlow, Ernest Parker
My dad, Ernest Parker Spendlow, was born on October 5, l889 in Morborne Peterborough, County of Huntingdonshire England. His parents were William Spendlow and Eliza Mary Spendlow (maiden name Parker). He had an older brother, William, an older sister, Harriet and a younger sister Florence.
Ernest immigrated to Canada in 1911 coming directly to Kenora as one of the ‘Peterborough Boys’ to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway residing in the YMCA building which is now the Royal Canadian Legion building. He worked firstly as a wiper, then in 1912 was promoted to Fireman and then in 1930 promoted to Engineer. He retired from the CPR on November 1,1954 and passed away on October 24, 1962. He is buried in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery in Kenora.
Ernest enlisted in the 52nd Battalion in Kenora on May 22, 1915. On June 15th, 1915 the men were moved under canvas at Gresley Park in Port Arthur where they underwent basic training until November 4th when they were moved to Saint John New Brunswick arriving there on November 8th 1915. On November 22nd they left Canada aboard the S.S. California for England. In this draft there were 52 lads from Kenora.
They arrived at Plymouth, England in early December 1915. They moved first to Witley Camp in Surrey and then later to Bramshott. On February 20th 1916 they sailed from Southampton to Le Havre in France arriving there on February 21st. From there they were moved to Poperinghe in Belgium and then on foot to Ecke. On February 23rdthe 52nd battalion was brigaded with the 43rd, 58th and 60th battalions to form the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
The unit saw action in Ypres, Kemmel, Fletre, Maple Copse, Hooge, Byng and Vimy Ridge. On November 11, 1918 the 52nd Battalion moved into Belgium where they celebrated Armistice Day. Ernest returned to England on February 10, 1919 and returned to Canada on the SS Olympic from Southampton on March 17, 1919. He was discharged in Port Arthur, Ontario on March 31, 1919 and returned then to Kenora where he married Christina Sibbald Lawson.
In the Second World War his son, Morven Ernest Spendlow, served with the Lake Superior Regiment which was based out of Port Arthur as the 52nd Battalion had been.
Prepared by Olivemae Sveinsson (daughter)
